Wednesday, March 20, 2013

SiMBA (Simpson's Memory Box Appeal) are a charity who support families in what can only be one of the most heartbreaking times in their lives. At the moment, they are looking for knitters to make teddies & tiny blankets.

They're appealing on Facebook - "We are Looking for volunteer knitters to knit our SiMBA teddies, this can be individuals or knitting groups. In our Memory Boxes we put one SiMBA teddy and one knitted teddy so that after spending time with baby one teddy can be placed in the Memory Box and one kept with baby" and I've been given permission to post the patterns here.

Beginning
with the first leg, cast on 8 stitches and work 16 rows. Break off
yarn and cast on 8 stitches and work 16 rows to form other leg.

Knit
across both legs (16 stitches) and then complete 8 rows.

Cast
on 8 stitches at the beginning of next 2 rows. Work 8 rows.

Cast
off 8 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows.

Now
work 38 rows on these 16 stitches.

Cast
on 8 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. Work 8 rows.

Cast
off 8 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows. Work 8 rows.

Using
only first 8 stitches, work 16 rows and then cast off. Return to
remaining 8 stitches and work 16 rows and then cast off.

Making
Up

Fold
knitted piece in half lengthways. The fold becomes the top of the
head.

Join
seam around teddy, leave a small gap between the legs.

Sew
a couple of stitches to each corner of the top of the head to give
the ears a curved rather than pointy shape. Turn right side out.
Backstitch a diagonal line across corner of head to form ears.

Stuff
and slip stitch closed area left for stuffing. Embroider face on
teddy.

Take
double thickness of yarn and thread around neck, going in every few
stitches. Draw up yarn tightly to form neck and secure ends.

Optional
Scarf

Cast
on 60 stitches. Knit 6 rows then cast off.

They also need tiny blankets which are really just 6inch by 6inch squares. Their pattern is for 4mm needles & DK yarn, cast on 40sts & garter stitch till piece measures 6 inches but you can be as fancy as you like so long as it measures 6 inches by 6 inches. As with the teddies, they have to be light neutral shades.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

I know this may be old news to some of you but for those that don't know about the Fish and Chip babies a quick search online will tell you about their plight. Poor wee babies born and having to go home wrapped in newspaper, like a fish & chip supper from the chip shop :(

People have been busy worldwide knitting simple vest tops for these babies but the problem I, personally, have come across is the actual getting them to Africa. It's not so much the cost of posting a few vests, it's the worry about whether they get to their destination or not. Here's where one of my friends comes in handy :) She works at a hospital & one of the nurses has been over to Malawi. She's taken hand knits over before and is willing to take more next time she goes.

The pattern can be found online but I'll post the one I'm using. Please feel free to drop of any you knit at The Wool Shop and I'll pass them on. I'm not sure of the dates we need them by but I'll let you know as soon as I do.

PATTERN-

Double knitting yarn in bright colours & 4.5mm needles
Cast on 44 stitches
Work 18 Rows in K2, P2 rib
Work 30 Rows stocking stitch
Cast on 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows and at the same time change to K2, P2 for the sleeves
Rib 22 more rows.
Next row: Rib 21, cast off 26 stitches, rib 21
Next row: Rib 21, cast on 26 stitches, rib 21
Work 22 rows in K2, P2 rib
Cast off 12 stitches at beginning of next 2 rows
Work 30 rows stocking stitch
Work 18 rows, K2, P2 rib
Cast off and sew seams.